nne, at that time a small town, which modern
enterprise and capital has transformed into a great manufacturing
city.[763] A little farther, at St. Rambert on the Loire, an incident
occurred which threatened to blight all the fair hopes the Protestants had
now again begun to conceive of a speedy and prosperous conclusion of the
war. Admiral Coligny fell dangerously ill, and for a time serious fears
were entertained for his life. It was a moment of anxious suspense. Never
before had the reformed realized the extent to which their fortunes were
dependent on a single man. The lesson was a useful one to the young
companions of the princes, who, in the midst of the stern discipline of
the camp, had shown some disposition to complain of the loss of the more
congenial gayety of the court.[764] Louis of Nassau, brother of William of
Orange, and next in command, was the only person among the Protestants
that could have succeeded to Coligny in his responsible position; but even
Louis of Nassau could not exact the respect enjoyed by the admiral, both
with his own troops and with the enemy. Indeed, it was the conduct of the
Roman Catholics at this juncture that furnished the clearest proof of the
indispensable importance to the Huguenots of their veteran leader. The
negotiations, which must soon be adverted to, had for some time been in
progress, and the court displayed considerable anxiety to secure a peace;
but the moment it was announced that Coligny was likely to die, the
deputies from the king broke them off and waited to see the issue. Being
asked to explain so singular a course, and being reminded that the
Huguenots had other generals with whom a treaty might be formed in case of
Coligny's death, it is said that the deputies replied by expressing their
surprise that the Protestants did not see the weight and authority
possessed by their admiral. "Were he to die to-day," said they, "to-morrow
we should not offer you so much as a glass of water. As if you did not
know that the admiral's name goes farther in giving you consideration than
had you another army equal in size to that you have at present!"[765]

[Sidenote: Engagement of Arnay-le-Duc.]

But Gaspard de Coligny was destined to die a death more glorious for
himself, and to leave behind him a name more illustrious than it would
have been had he died on the eve of the return of peace to his desolated
country. He recovered, and once more advanced with his brave Huguenots.
A